Safety neck-yoke.



J. N. NOVOTNY.

SAFETY NECK YOKE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED 16.29, 1011.

Patented May 21, 1912.

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JOHN N. NOVOTNY, 0F BADGER, MINNESOTA.

SAFETY N ECK-YOKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. August 29, 1911.

Patented May 21, 1912.

Serial No. 646,604.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN N. NOVOTNY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Badger, in the county of Roseau, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Neck- Yokes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in neck yokes for vehicle tongues and the object of my invention 1s to improve the construction and increase the efficiency of neck yokes of the above described type.

A further object of my invention is the construction of a neck yoke from a single piece of sheet metal so formed that the end of the pole is completely covered by the yoke and at the same time is permitted the necessary freedom of movement. And a still further object of my invention is to provide a neck yoke which may be detachably connected to the customary form of draft tongue or pole and which when so attached will be absolutely secured against casual disengagement therefrom.

With these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the drawings and then specifically pointed out in the claims which are attached to and form a part of this application.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the neck yoke as applied to the pole of a vehicle. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, removed from the pole. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on the line l4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5'is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring more specifically to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout, my neck yoke is formed from a single piece of sheet metal 1 the cen tral portion of which is provided with extensions 2, this piece of metal being bent longitudinally to form a U-shaped central portion 3 adapted to receive the end of a pole shown at 4, the extensions of the memher 1 forming extended side members which bear against opposite sides of the pole and which as shown are provided at their outer edges with rolls 5 which serve to both reinforce the edges of the pole receiving socket and to prevent it from chafing the pole. Passing through these extensions one at either side are rivets 6 the stems of which are surrounded by tubes 7 which serve to maintain the extensions in proper spaced apart position. It will thus be seen that when the end of the pole is inserted through the mouth of the socket formed by the extensions and those rivets the yoke will be free to swing upon the pole in the customary manner while at the same time the end of the pole will be completely covered by the yoke. The end portions of the body member 1 are gradually reduced and further bent to form the tube terminals 8 to the ends of which are firmly secured the customary standard rings 9. This shaping of the terminal portion of the yoke will be readily understood by referring to Figsml and 5 of the drawings. The pole as shown is provided adjacent its end with the customary stop lug 10 and also with a second lug 11 which is spaced therefrom and which, when the yoke is in position extends downwardly through a suitable aperture 12 formed in one of the sides of the socket. In applying the yoke to the pole the former is held at an angle of forty-five degrees to the horizontal in which position it may be readily passed over the end of the pole, the stop lug 11 passing readily through the corner of the socket opening. The yoke is then turned to normal position causing the lug to en gage through the aperture 12 thus firmly securing the yoke against casual disengagement when in use.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a simple and economical form of neck yoke possessing many advantages in operation over neck yokes of the customary form. Chief among these advantages is the fact that the reins and other parts of the harness are absolutely prevented from catching over the end of the pole.

What I claim is 1. A hollow neck yoke formed from a single piece of sheet metal bent longitudinally to form a centrally positioned pole receiving member U-shaped in section, tubed rivets securing the free edges of said member in spaced relation, the end portions of said metal being gradually reduced and further bent to form tubed terminals, and standard securing means carried by said terminals.

2. A hollow neck yoke formed from a sin gle piece of sheet metal the central side porfurther bent to form tubed terminals, and 10 tions of which are provided With extensions, standard securing means carried by said said metal being bent longitudinally to form terminals.

a centrally positioned pole receiving mem- In testimony whereof, I affix my signaber U -shaped in section, said extensions ture, in presence of two Witnesses.

forming continuations of the sides of said JOHN N. NOVOTNY. member, means for securing said extensions W'itnesses:

in parallel spaced relation, the end portions Gr. I. BRANDT,

of said metal being gradually reduced and F. W. GEHRES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. 

